Top Used BMW models, ranked by reliability
Top Used BMW models, ranked by reliability
By Lawrence Minnie
The BMW marque is one of the most iconic brands amongst South Africans. These three letters conjure up images of success, luxury and performance. We take on the incredibly hard task of ranking BMW’s recent model line-up by how reliable they are.
The car everyone wants
Ask any child today what car they want to drive when they grow up and their answer will almost always be "a BMW". These three letters represent the hopes and aspirations for many new drivers and it is a moment of family celebrations when one acquires the keys to one.
BMW has a such a commitment to quality and reliability that compiling this ranking was nigh on impossible. Our data sources from JD Power, Kinsey, Hello Peter and IPSOS had little or nothing to say on the reliability of the German marque.
We relied heavily on the personal experiences of fellow journalists, family members and consumer reporting to rank these 10 models. Our rankings were heavily influenced by the sale and popularity of these vehicles as reliability and popularity go hand in hand. It should be noted that we have purposefully left out the “M” and “i” models, due to performance and sales reasons, as these would completely skew the results.
Spotting an 8 Series in the wild is like going to the Kruger Park and seeing the big five in the first 45 mins of being there. Of course, it was discontinued many, many years ago, but while it was around, it picked up a bit of a reputation for fragility. This is not entirely unexpected, because it featured a lot of new and unproven technology for its time. But, with a new 8-Series soon to arrive in South Africa, based on proven 7-Series bits, the new generation won’t suffer from its ancient forefather’s ills.
Although a little more prevalent, the 6 series is also a rarity amongst its peers. The two-door luxury coupé is easily eclipsed by its bigger brother, the 7 Series. It’s just as well-sorted as you’d expect a modern BMW to be, and wears its technology very well.
Considered by many to be a folly on BMW’s design department, the X6, much like the 2 Series Active Tourer, was a departure from the BMW norms that left many consumers scratching their heads. They were well-made and durable, though – provided the appropriate preventative maintenance was kept up to date.
This two-door version was a slight step up for buyers climbing out of the 3-Series that weren’t willing to go all out and get a 5 Series. It shares the 3-Series’ underpinnings, so you know that it will be pretty reliable as well – just with an added shot of style.
For those buyers that are done with their hooligan days in the 5-Series, the 7-Series is a step up into First Class. Opulence, luxury and performance await the driver. Watch out for all that impressive technology and gadgets as it ages, though – there’s a lot of stuff which could go wrong, and if it does, it will likely be very costly.
This is the entry point into BMW ownership, but strangely enough, this is not where most buyers start off. Many new BMW drivers are climbing straight into the 3 Series, relegating the 1 Series hatch to those who can just barely afford them.
It’s no surprise then that our top four BMW cars are the SUV and sedan versions of the 5 and 3 Series, as these cars represent the largest portion of BMW sales and ownership. The 3-Series is currently the vehicle of choice, with the 5 Series following very closely behind. But this is Africa after all, and many of these drivers are beginning to look the way of higher ground clearance and a more active lifestyle.
The battle is on and we will have to see if the SUV will supplant the sedan as the BMW of choice. Either way, these models are all about level-pegged in the reliability stakes. Just don’t neglect the service schedule and that all-important preventative maintenance.